The Dillon tribune., 1887-06-10

iisled Ills headquarters near there. He sent
his cavalry, with artillery, under Stoneman.
Lay 4, to pursue johnston, Stonen,n
caught up with Stuarts cavalry near the
Halfway house. Here was a line of Con.
federate works waiting for him. In front Of
him was large redoubt of earthwor!ss called
Fort Magruder. There was some s;rmish.
ing, then Stone,nan retreated to wait the ar
rival OF infantry to cooperate with him. As
he did SO he left his own cannon behind him
ingloriously stuck in the mud.
May Hooker had marched with the in
fantly by shorter road on the right to ion
Stonen,an Gen. w. +. Smith followed by
the Lees Mill road OH the left. After him
moved Couch's and Casey's divisions Kear.
ney's followed Hooker on the right Sum-
ner's corps followed next day. F,unklins
and Ntz John Porter's divisions were to be
sent up the York river from Yorktown bv
water. Gen. Mcclellan stayed till the last at
Yorktown.
The Federal troops engaged in the fight at
Williamsburg were Hooker's and Smiths d.
visions and Kearneys divisions, besides part
OF COUGHS. On the Confederate side Long.
street commanded.
Hooker fulfilled his orders to the letter. At
daybreak, May 5, he came in sight of vii.
liamsburg. Knowing that plenty of re-
endorsements were behind him, lie attacked
at once with his 5000 men. All the while the
plan Of the Confederates was to retreat
slowly toward Richmond, keeping a strong
rear guard back of them till they could place
the Chickahominy between themselves and
the enemy. It was a mastery movement
! It was this strong rear guard VIII I'll began
the battle Of Williamsburg, though re-en-
forcements from the front speedily were sent
back.
Hooker, fighting hotly ct tho front, sent re-
pcatealy to the commanding officer for help.
But the simple fact is there was no com
,nantling officer. A conflict of authority
arose between Sumner and Heintzeln,a, who
/ disliked each other. So nothing was done to
relieve Hooker.
Still the rain fell, as it had been doing for
Il month. Artillery wheels sank to the center
in the mud, but Fighting Joe Hooker" kept
until night on the ground that had been
abandoned
Not paying any attention to Hooker who
was fighting on the Federal lett. Sumner de.
cided to make Il movement Oh the right. \
Confederate reloubt ON Cub Dam cree:s, cast
Ct Fort Magr,lder, was reported empty.
Sumner ordered Gen. Winfield Scot. Ham
!,
60, and likewise took possession of another
earthwork in advance Of it. He wished to
take third one. still nearer Fort Magruder,
and repeatedly sent for re-enforcements to
eEablc him to ,lo so. Sumner twice ordered
them to go to his aid and twice counter
1llanded the order. Hancock sent again ur-
gently, and that time Sumner ordered him to
fall back Thus Hancock got nomolc sup
port than Hooker lid. 1t seemed somehow,
to he u battle without a head
Hancock was extremely loath to obey such
all order, knowing the advantage that might
he gained. He determined to obey as slowly
us possible Meantime the enemy poured in
upon him. He began retreating slowly before
them Suddenly he turned on them and opened
Il terrific m,,skct fire. As the smoke from
that cleared away somewhat lie shouted sc
his men: ''Now, gentlemen, the lmyonet.
His soldiers made a tremendous bayone'
charge That decided the day. The Confcd
crates broke and fed. They lost on that part
of til" battlefield alone 500. Hancock Wa:
su,erI,." Cen Mcclellan tclcgraphcd neX
day.
So Hooker and kcarney on the left all
Hancock on the right saved the day at Viii
lan,sburg May 5, 1862.
But the Confetlerates got off and continued
their retreat toward Richmond, just as the,
had intended. Next day tho pursuing arm,
captured few of their guns, which la,
milesl in the mud AMI been abandoned
That, with some stray prisoners, was the sun
total of tho Federal spols Of war after thi
battlc The Union forces lost 2 ,2!2S III killc'
and wounded, the Confetlerates 500
Gen. Mcclellan was not on the field till nea
5 O'Clock in tho afternoon lie was ut York
town s,lperimte,ding the removal OF tn
forces that were to 50 up the York by water
Word was sent to him ut o'clock that tn
, battle was On, and i,otly, and urging him t
go to the front. He answered simply,
think they can take care of that little matter.
, In his -McClellan's own look-he says:
"Coull l lave arrived ut O'clock, it is vcr
!, certain that Smith, supported by Couch an
\ nfterwartl by Casey, would at once have nc
!, bouched from Hancock's ground and have cr'
;, off the retreat of the greater part OF tn
! troops engaged against Hooker"
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